Mail-catcher.



lH. C. WEHLING.

MAIL UATGHERi APPLIGATION FILED MAY 5, 190e.

909,042. Patented Jan.5,1909.

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` HENRY' c. wEnLiNe, or noUsToN, TEXAS.

Mart-'carcasa Specification of Letters Patemt.` Appleman mea May 5, 190s. serial-N0. escasa Patented Jan. 5, 190e.

l Toi-dll whom itlifiliictyvconc'em.'

Be,4 it known that-l, HENRY C. VVnl-ILING,

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Houston, inthe county of Harris and State ofTeXas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements .in Mail- Catchers, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to new and vuseful improvements in mail catchers and more particularly to such devices as may be used in taking mail bags on movingcars.

The object of the invention is to provide 'a device of the character described that will receivethe mail bag which is placed beside the track and automatically carry the same to the door of the car so that it may be readily removed within the car.

Another feature resides iin the provision of. means for discharging mail bags from cars when in motion.

Finally the object of the invention is toy provide a device ofthe character described vthat will be elicient and durable and at the same time simple and easily constructed and kept in working order.

With the above andv other objects in view, my invention has particular relation' to een tain novel features of construction and operation an example of which is described in the following specification and `illustrated in theI accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1` is la side elevation of my device attached to the-car and in position after receiving the mail bag. Fig, 2 is a partial cross section through the car wall, showing my device'in plan as it appears when swing ing down. Fig. 3 is a partial cross section through the car wall, showing a plan oi my device extendedfand set for action. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the discharging device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in all the ures, the numeral 1 designates the supporting rod of my device which is rmly fastened across the car door by means of the bearings 2. Upon this rod the :trame coni- `,cellar/r. 10e. immovably mountedl on.v the' supposed of rods 4 and 5 and the cross bar 6 is slidably swung by means of runners 7 and 8. These runners are also revoluble on the rod 1. The rod 4 extends beyond the supporting rod 1 and terminates in a suitable handle or grip 9 f The runner 8 which is integral with the rod 4 is shouldered so as to engage with the porting rod 1 similarly shouldered so to engage the shoulder of the runner 5%. This runner held iiriuly against the collar 10 by means ot' a coil spring 11.

Upon the cross-bar 6 is pivot-ally mounted the lever 12, the rear end of which has a slidable engagement with a runner .13 adapt ed to slide on the rod 4. Theengagement with this runner is accomplished by a thumb screw 14 passing through an oblongslot 15 in said lever and engaging with said runner. This runner and the rear end of the lever 12 are normally held down by means of a coil spring 16 mounted on the rod 4.

The crossbar 6 carries an arm 17 pivotally mounted thereon which is pressed forward by means of a' flat spring 18 and which is providedy at its free end with a shoulder adapted to engage a projection 19 carried by the'lever 12. Y

The crossbar 6 projects beyond the rod4 and the projection carries curved spring hooks 2O which are intended to carry the bag to be ejected. Similar hooks are designed to be placed beside the track to re ceivc the ejected bag. 1

Theoperation of my device is as follows: lVhen it is desired to arrange the device for taking on mail, the front end of the lever 12 is forced downward until the pivot 19 en# gages with the shoulder at the free end of the arm 17. By reason of this engagement and the pressure of the springs 16 and 18, the lever 12 is held in this extended position. The entire device ,is then revolved on the supporting rod 1 by depressing the han dle 9 until it extends out at a right angle to .the car, whenthe shoulder of the runner 8 will be forced into engagement with the shoulder of the stationary collar 10 by means of the spring 11 andthus the device will be held in an extended position. The

vmail bag is to be so positioned beside the track as to strike against the arm 17 and to force the same out of engagement with the pivot 19. The -outward pressure of the spring 16 on the rear of the lever 12 will elevate the front end thereof, which will carry theA bag with it and engage the same between the lever and the cross bar 6, and thus securely hold the bag. The force of the impact with the bag at the same time carries the framerearwardly alongV the sup orting rodV 1 disengagingV the shoulder of t e runnerg8 .from the shoulder of the collar lthus 4permitting the device to swing around and take the position shown in Fig. l, thus bringing the mail bag in the door of the car.

It Will be observed that the lever l2 when inthe position as shown in Fig. l is sufv ciently inclined to prevent the ba'g from slipping off of the same. WhatIvcl'aim, is: f1.: In a mail catching device, the combinaytion'vvzith aA supporting shaft, of means vfor secul'in fthe-same to a caiga-clutch fixed on 'the shat A shaft adapted to engage with the clutch, a"

,a a frame revolubly mounted on the means for vdelivering vmail fixed on the frame,

a spring set lever pivotally mounted on the frame adapted to catch'the mail.

3. In a mail catching device, the combination with a supporting shaft, of means for v securing said shaft to a car, a clutch member fixed on said shaft, a frame movably mounted on'the' shaft adapted 'to engage With the clutch, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame adapted to engage with mail, means for securing said engagement, and means for automatically swinging the frame to a vertical position at the side of the car.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of t-Wo subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY C. WEHLING.

Witnesses:

O. S. CUMMINGS, WM. A. CATHEVY 

